Black Ivy
An: Sorry it took so long! Week before last week was college finals, weekend I had church activities I had to attend, last week I was busy, weekend was more church activities, and Monday and Tuesday of this week I felt terrible. So, if this chapter isn't up to par, I apologize. I have had very little time to work on it, and most of the time it was late at night. I have corrected any grammatical errors in this chapter, though. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I am a straight guy in his early twenties, so obviously I am not J.K. Rowling.
Chapter nine- Revelations
/
The news of Dumbledore's grand escape traveled fast. Hogwarts was abuzz with the news that Dumbledore literally told off the Ministry and had Fawkes teleport him out. Everyone (mostly Slytherins) commented on how cowardly Dumbledore seemed. No one protested. Even the ones who still sung Dumbledore's praises were losing their respect in the old Headmaster.
Even now, a week later, everyone was talking about it. Students were wondering why Dumbledore was doing all this. It seemed a little weird for Dumbledore to do this just because of some argument with Grindlewald and the death of his sister.
Harry stood in front of Moaning Myrtle's bathroom with every professor, his parents, and most of the other students waiting. After speaking to his parents, Harry intended to claim the Basilisk's corpse, and had invited everyone who wanted to see the Chamber to come along.
As expected, most of the school turned out to see the legendary chamber. It helped that now that Helena and surprisingly Peeves (who lectured of the early years of Hogwarts) had begun shedding light on who the Founders really were, people wanted to try and find out more about them.
Members of Slytherin House were the first to show up.
"How much longer do we have to wait?!" One Slytherin complained loudly. "And why the bloody hell are we waiting outside of Moaning Myrtle's bathroom?!"
"Two points from Slytherin for your foul language, Mr. Castlefort," McGonagall scolded. "We will wait until the Aurors and Goblin cursebreakers to show up."
"But why?"
"Standard protocol," Sirius explained. "We don't want to take any chances down there. Besides, most of the Basilisk carcass down there is being sold to the Goblins."
Students whispered quietly at that. It was still hard to believe one of the biggest rumors floating around Hogwarts was true. And to have a Second year kill it was astonishing.
Amelia walked up to the assembled group with Moody, Tonks, and Shacklebolt as well as Ragnok and several other Goblins following behind her. "Let's hurry this up. I have to organize a specialized search team to track down some certain someones," she said sternly.
"And time is money," the Gringotts Chairman drawled.
Harry turned and immediately bowed. "Well met, Chairman Ragnok. May your enemies fall by your blade," he toned respectfully, causing many to look at him like he just grew two heads.
"Well met, Beast Slayer Basilisk Fang," Ragnok said back, causing the students' jaws to drop. "May your course stay true." The Goblin grinned. "I truly am looking forward to seeing this Basilisk, Basilisk Fang. Pensive memories never do anything justice."
"I'll take your word on it," Harry said. He looked to the others. His family and friends were smirking while the other students were still gaping. "So! Shall we?"
/
Harry walked into the bathroom and made beeline straight for the sinks. "~Open~" he hissed in Parseltounge.
The sinks immediately began to part, shocking everyone but the Goblins (who merely raised an eyebrow). One of the sinks sank down into the ground, revealing a large hole, more than big enough for a very large snake to crawl out of.
"To think the Chamber of Secrets' entrance was in a girl's lavatory," Draco muttered. Over the past two weeks, he had kept his head down, thinking about all that had happened over the summer. After his father's subsequent incarceration and escape and an enlightening meeting with his Aunt Bellatrix, Draco's world had come crashing down violently.
He always did what he father said was the best way to do things. As such, it led him to controlling his own House by fear and money. At the time, that was all he thought he needed. But, this summer he was hit with some cold hard truths.
Truthfully, he wandered why he felt so strongly about his father's behavior. His father had told him the family motto was, "Always Leaders, Never Followers." But his father had bowed to the Dark Lord. So why did his father always preach that motto but never follow it? It was insulting.
Harry looked at Draco for a moment before shrugging. "Yeah, I don't get it either," he said.
"This room was not always a lavatory," the voice of Helena Ravenclaw rang out, causing many to turn to the ghost, startled by her presence. "It was once the Dueling classroom when the castle was still being built."
"Miss Ravenclaw," McGonagall said, "may I ask why you are here?"
Helena looked at McGonagall and deadpanned, which looked weird on a ghost. "I assumed it was obvious," she said tonelessly. "I wish to see Uncle Salazar's Chamber. Only my mother, Uncle Godric, and Auntie Helga ever were allowed to enter it."
"More of your lies, I suppose," Theodore Nott drawled out. "Everyone knows that not even those lousy other Founders ever found the place."
"On the contrary, Mr. Nott," Peeves said, appearing behind Theodore. "Professor Slytherin created the Chamber for the purpose of hiding the students if ever the Witch Hunts or Dark Wizards came too close to the school," he lectured, causing many to stare at the ghost. "Professor Gryffindor helped Salazar hollow out the bedrock, Professor Ravenclaw set the wards, and Professor Hufflepuff charmed the entrance."
Hearing Peeves talk so seriously and act like a professor was still more of a shock than Harry killing a Basilisk.
Theodore was cowed. He shut up and looked away, pouting.
"Can we just hurry up?" Daphne snapped.
'She never could be patient, even back in our First Year. Wait. I didn't know her my First Year,' Harry thought in confusion. It had happened a lot the last two weeks. He would have a random thought about Daphne and him. He first felt someone might've Obliviated him, but his parents and Madam Pomfrey and Professor Snape confirmed he didn't.
Harry shook his head ruefully and said, "Ladies first" as he gestured towards the hole. Everyone chuckled while Daphne glared at him.
"Don't mind if I do," Helena said as she glided down the hole. Everyone looked on in shock. Peeves chuckled.
"That's what I liked about Helena back when we were in school. She was always the tomboy, as it's called today. Always jumping in head first to a situation."
"This happened often, I assume?" Lily asked.
Peeves laughed. "More often than not. Professor Ravenclaw nearly pulled her hair out a couple of times."
/
They all slid down the tube.
Many of the girls complained (read: shrieked) about the bones of long dead mice and rats. Harry ignored them as he continued on his journey through the tunnel. The assembled Aurors and professors made quick work of the rubble of the cave-in Lockhart had caused with his misfired Obliviate. The large group continued on until they came to the doors that led into the Chamber's main room.
"~Open~" Harry hissed in Parseltongue and the doors opened wide.
Even after a whole year, the Basilisk's corpse looked the same as it did before it died. In fact, the Chamber didn't even smell of rotting flesh. Everyone save the Goblins and Harry gasped in fright at the sight of the dead King of Serpents. Many turned their heads, thinking its eyes still worked.
Suddenly, Hermione ran up and smacked Harry upside the head. "OW! Hermione! What was that for?!" he said.
"For being you!" Hermione shouted. "I mean, LOOK at that thing! It must be at least sixty feet long!"
"Sixty feet and three quarters, actually," a Goblin corrected from beside the behemoth carcass. Some students blinked. Man they work fast. Hermione hit Harry upside the head again.
Ragnok was currently inspecting the corpse while the others examined it. "Hmm…The hide's perfectly in-tact. The fangs are not chipped. Eyes are gone. A shame. How's the meat?"
"We estimate that only 3% of it is unusable due to rot, Sir," a Goblin spoke up.
Ragnok grinned savagely. "Very good," he affirmed nodding. He turned to Harry and said, "You are truly worthy of your name, Basilisk Fang. As I assumed, your memories didn't do this magnificent beast justice."
"Justice isn't a word I'd use," Lily whispered softly as she stared in abstract horror at the monster her son killed at twelve years old.
Once more, Hermione slapped Harry upside the head. This time, though, Daphne (who had the unexplainable urge to) slapped him as well. "OW! Quit hitting me!" Harry whined. Everyone laughed at him.
"Man, Salazar must've loved looking at himself, didn't he?" Tracey asked pointing at the statue in the center of the room.
"That is not Salazar," Helena said, appearing next to Tracey, making the Third Year Slytherin jump in fright.
"Aiee!" Tracey screamed. She landed and glared at the ghost. "Don't do that!"
"That is his father," Helena continued as if Tracey had never spoken. "Sebastian Slytherin."
"Chairman, sir," a Goblin called out from under the statue. "We have detected magic on this wall. I believe it's a door."
Ragnok nodded. "Basilisk Fang," he called out. "Try and see if it will respond to Parseltongue."
"Yes, sir." Harry walked past the dead Basilisk and made his way to the wall behind the statue of, what Helena said to be, of Salazar's father. His parents, sister, and friends following right behind him.
He made it to the wall and hissed, "~Open~"
The wall opened up with a loud groan, revealing a room that didn't seem to be touched by the hands of time. The carpet inside was still a startling green with silver accents. The walls had a reddish hue to them, not Gryffindor red, but a more russet color, like red clay. There was a mahogany desk standing at one side of the room while a four poster king sized bed with dark green bed sheets. A potion lab and a dueling area stood at the far ends of the room. A large fireplace was directly in front of the group.
Hanging on the mantle was a large portrait with four people standing before an unfinished building. Harry noted in shock that the building was Hogwarts! That would mean…
The first person in the portrait was a woman with long brown hair and amethyst eyes. She wore blue and bronze robes and had a heart shaped face. She yelped softly as she caught eyes with the group. "Helga! Salazar! Godric! The doors are open!" she said loudly, catching the attention of the other three.
Helga turned first. Her dull red hair cascaded down her back in waves. Her brown eyes flickered with compassion and, from what Harry could tell, pain that was well hidden from someone who didn't know what to look for. She wore the traditional colors of her House, but what caught the attention of many in the group were the scars that marred her lower jaw and neck.
Godric was as Harry would have expected. He had shaggy black hair and eyes as blue as an azure sky. His gold and red robes seemed to bellow behind him by an unseen wind. A long jagged scar raced horizontally across his eyes and another perpendicular down his left eye. His sword swayed by his side as he turned a mischievous grin towards us.
However, it was Salazar that gained the most attention. In all honesty? He looked like a perfect combination of Snape and Harry! Salazar's hair flowed down to his shoulders like Snape's, but his facial features were that of Harry's. The green eyes that glowed like darkened emeralds helped the comparison, though Salazar's were slitted like a snake's. His silver-trimmed green robes bellowed in the same fashion as Godric's. A long slightly curved sword hung at his side. He had a bored, uninterested look on his face until he saw the group come in. He frowned thoughtfully.
"Strange," he said in a bland tone no one was expecting (they were expecting a dark monotone that would scare children in their sleep). I was sure the wards around this room wouldn't fall for another year or so. Where is Seraphim?"
Harry felt his throat dry up. "D-did she happen to be a very large Basilisk, sir?" he asked quietly.
Salazar looked to Harry. His slitted green eyes stared into Harry's killing curse green ones. "Hm…You look remarkably like Master Julian. Tell me, are a Potter by any chance?" he asked.
"Y-yes sir. I'm Harry. Harry Potter."
Godric grinned. "Ha! A Potter!" he shouted. He turned his grin to Salazar. "I win the bet, you arse!"
"What bet?" Salazar asked in a monotone (still not the one many expected).
"The bet that a Potter would find this place!"
"You made no such bet. Now, restrain yourself Godric before you find Goblin Cleaver in-between you shoulder blades."
"You're not that skilled!"
"You want to make that assumption?"
"Boys!" Helga reprimanded. She had a beautiful voice. "Stop quarrelling!" She turned back to Harry and said, "To answer your question: Yes: Seraphim is Salazar's familiar. She is bond to this chamber as the final protection of the school."
Harry felt his temperature drop. "I know why your wards fail, Salazar sir."
"Please, just call me Salazar. I abhor such formalities," he said.
"Salazar, then. W-well, Seraphim is dead."
"What?" This was the dark monotone everyone was expecting. Cue flinching.
"Well, uh, your Basilisk, Seraphim, kinda went…psycho?" Harry asked uncertainly.
"Explain further."
"Voldemort, your descendant, claimed he was doing your noble work and siced Seraphim on the Muggleborns."
Salazar hissed, not unlike a snake warning its victims that they were within striking distance. "Gaunt! You insufferable shit! I can't-" he started to shout but no one understood the rest.
Because Salazar was quickly hissing in Parseltonuge. He began pacing around the portrait hissing wildly and madly. Harry paled as Salazar continued to hiss.
"Harry? Are you okay? What's he saying?" Lily asked.
Harry looked to his mother and shook his head. "Trust me, Mum. You don't wanna know," he said.
"Sal, please, calm down," Rowena said soothingly. She placed a hand on his shoulder. "Gaunt's descendant corrupted her, possibly tortured her to insanity! She had to be put down before she could kill a student."
"She did," McGonagall spoke up at that time. "A young girl named Myrtle Henderson was killed by the Basilisk when the Chamber was opened the first time a little over fifty years ago."
Salazar closed his eyes tightly. He took a few calming breaths and sighed sadly. "I knew Gaunt's line would run mine through the mud," he mumbled, "but I never knew it would be as horrible as this." He turned to Harry and asked, "How was she killed?"
"I stabbed her in her brain through her mouth," Harry said as calmly as he could.
Salazar and the other Founders gaped at me. "Tell me this was recent," Helga demanded.
"Uh, no. I did this last year."
"Then at least tell us you are short for your age and are at least eighteen," Godric commented.
"That is true about being short for my age. But I'm getting better," Harry admitted. "However, I am not eighteen. I just turned thirteen a few months ago."
The four Founders looked at Harry in horrified awe. "You killed Seraphim," Helga stressed, "with a sword. By stabbing said sword into Seraphim's upper jaw, hitting the brain and were not hit by her fangs at twelve years old?!"
"No. I got stabbed in the arm, but Fawkes, the former Headmaster's phoenix, cried into my wound, healing it and nullifying the poison," Harry explained.
"...You must be blessed by Fortuna, right?" Godric asked incredulously. "That's the only way you could've survived Seraphim at twelve."
"What kind of sword did you use?" Rowena asked. "I doubt there is a sword strong enough to pierce through a Basilisk's skull?"
"Godric's sword," Harry said.
Godric's eyes widened. "You used my family's sword to kill a Basilisk? A Basilisk that I'm sure has to be over sixty feet long for as long as she's been down here?"
"Sixty feet and three quarters, to be precise," Ragnok said grinning viscously.
Salazar turned to him and smiled apprehensively. "Heh, heh, heh," he laughed slightly, sounding like a teenager who just found out he was in trouble, "Well met, honorable Goblin."
"Well met, Lord Slytherin." Ragnok's grin turned even more viscous, if that were possible. "And in case you are wondering, yes, we still remember."
"Oh come on!" Salazar whined (yes, the Great Salazar Slytherin whined!). "I helped you establish Gringotts! I gave you the capital to start it up! I gathered up your lost brothers! What do I have to do to apologize for my offense!"
"Oh! That! Your offense has long been forgiven. I just wanted you to know we still remember your offense…as well as your contributions," Ragnok said cheerily.
Salazar's eyes twitched violently. "You mean you were trying to…'prank' me?"
"Is that what they call it? Well, yes, we pranked you, but you made it all too easy."
Salazar's eye twitched violently again. This was when Theodore stepped up.
"Lord Salazar, sir," he intoned.
"Please, just Salazar. I already told you all I abhor formalities."
Theodore looked uncomfortable. "S-Salazar, then. I wish to ask why you…um…act like a Mudblood."
Many looked at Theodore in rage or were incredulous that he asked that. Salazar looked confused. "Mudblood? I was under the impression Godric was the Mudblood."
This offended Godric. "Now, see here, snake! I don't have mud for blood! I'm just not as magically superior like you, Pureblood!" he spat, but there was no disdain or hate in his voice, just mirth and mischief.
Theodore gritted his teeth. "I mean you act like those…those…Muggles! You are supposed to HATE them!"
Now Salazar narrowed his eyes. "And why should I? That would kind of be hypocritical of me since my own parents were Muggles," Salazar said in a blank tone, confirming what Helena had already told them.
Theodore was livid. He turned to Helena and shouted, "YOU! What trickery is this?! There is NO WAY Salazar Slytherin is a filthy Mudblood! You must have done something to this portrait-"
"That is quite enough, child," Rowena said coldly. "Ghosts cannot perform magic, much less on a portrait that I myself charmed. Also, my daughter would not lie." She turned to Helena. "Would you, dear?"
"No Ma'am," Helena said respectfully. "It is good to see you again, Mother."
"Forgive me for interrupting," Amelia spoke up for the first time entering the Chamber, "but I would like to know why Salazar here had such a strong reaction to the name Gaunt. Last I checked, the Gaunt line was descended from Salazar."
Moody grunted. "I'd like to know as well. It would seem that history got it wrong again."
Salazar turned to them and sighed. "I have no connection with the Gaunts, save for the time I taught Ebenezer Gaunt's children," he said sadly. "His first son was killed by a…former student, and his daughter died saving young Harry's ancestor, Jason Potter, from a killing curse sent at his back. Ebenezer blamed us. Blamed me, especially. He believed in that only those who already had magic in their families should be allowed to wield magic. So, he started killing off Newbloods using my name."
"Newbloods?" Hermione asked, intrigued by the word.
"It is what I would call myself and all Muggleborn students," Salazar explained. "When I tried to stop him, he placed a curse on my name that it would forever be remembered for his actions."
Lily gasped. "He placed a curse on your name? That's an extremely difficult type of magic to do."
"Yep. But I got the last laugh after that, though." Salazar sounded smug.
James (who was still laughing with Sirius and Remus over the Goblins pranking the Great Salazar Slytherin) was immediately curious. "Why's that?" he asked.
Salazar smirked. "I placed a curse on his name as well."
Helga's expression turned viscous. "Salazar Thanatos Slytherin! Don't you DARE act smug about that!" she snarled. The Hufflepuffs were shocked, understandably, but they felt proud that the Founder of their House was making Salazar Slytherin cower like a small frightened animal.
"What did you do?" Draco asked, startling several other students as he didn't ask it in his snobby tone of voice.
Salazar smirked. "I cursed his name as well. I cursed his line to forever diminish and finally die out by a scion of House Potter."
People gasped. "Why House Potter?" Daphne asked.
Salazar looked to her. "And what is your name, my dear?"
"Daphne Greengrass, sir."
"Ah, Greengrass. I remember your ancestor. An arse, he was," Salazar mused. "But to answer your question, it seemed appropriate at the time. Jason was prepared to die to honor Helena's and Joab Gaunt's names from the man who killed them, and Elizabeth Gaunt died protecting Jason from a killing curse that was aimed at his back. The Potter line tried to protect the Gaunt line, but they spat on that kindness. I thought at least the Potters can grant them one last act of kindness."
Daphne seemed a tad miffed at Salazar's description of her ancestor. So, Harry stood up to say something before Mount Daphne erupted. She was very proud of her heritage. "But why my family?"
"Well, Gaunt liked to call himself the Greatest Dark Lord ever to grace the world, I think that having a descendant of the true Greatest Dark Lord end his line will show him he is, what is the idiom, 'full of hot air?'"
Everyone laughed.
/
After the event in the Chamber, Hogwarts was steadily becoming busier.
Goblins had since broken the so-called 'curse' on the DADA classroom. Apparently, Voldemort had placed the curse there when he was still Tom Riddle in retaliation for not getting said position from Dumbledore some-time after he graduated.
'Talk about a sore loser,' Daphne had thought as she took a swig of her Pumpkin juice.
Classes weren't affected in any way, but inter-House relations somehow got better. Maybe it was because it was Helena's and Peeve's classes or maybe because of finding the Founder's portrait or even each Founder reading their respective Houses the riot act, but everyone was getting along to some extent.
Oh, animosity still brewed between Gryffindor and Slytherin. Especially around Qudditch. Though, watching Salazar and Godric arguing took away from part of that.
"Ah! Qudditch! The greatest sport ever made! And to think my House has the youngest Seeker playing since Salazar!" Godric proclaimed to everyone's shock. None more so than Harry's.
Salazar looked over to his rival. "Are you ever going to shut up about Qudditch? Dear God, I swear you'd marry Qudditch if you could."
"How can you NOT love Qudditch?!" Godric whined. "Why must you hate it so?!"
"Simple. You talk about it too much."
"You're not British! No self-respecting Brit would ever NOT love Qudditch!"
"You did not just say you're more British than me! You're Dutch, you son of a bitch!"
That was one of the most entertaining moments that Daphne's Potion class ever had.
However, a month later tragedy struck.
Ashley had received word that her adopted parents were killed in an accident. Their bodies had been destroyed beyond repair. Ashley had been devastated. She had gotten the news during breakfast one morning. She cried for three days straight. Lily took Ashley to her parents' funeral on the fourth day. There was no visitation. Ashley returned after the funeral in a daze.
Harry, Daphne, and the others tried to console her, but it was hard to do. She had been very close to her parents, so their deaths had put her into a zombie-like state. Daphne hoped the Aurors could find out who killed her parents. Otherwise, there would be no hope of getting Ashley back.
On another note, Daphne would sometimes find herself watching Professor Flitwick train Harry in Dueling. It was rather funny to watch Professor Flitwick work Harry like a dog. She wasn't sure why she did this. She didn't know Harry until he introduced himself to her in the Leaky Cauldron during the summer, did she? She had Professor Snape and Madam Pomfrey check her for memory charms and the like, but the results were always false.
As Daphne sat down for her History class, Helena floated in. "Welcome again. Today, as I was unable to tell you all about it the last few times we were together, I will begin the tale of how the Founders came to be under Julian Potter's tutelage.
"Rowena Blackthorn lived in a small village on the outskirts of the British/Scottish border. She lived a relatively quiet life. The village she lived in had very few people her own age, so she took solace in the books her father sold to passersby and the magic texts her mother had. Rowena didn't have a happy relationship with her parents. In fact, the only people she talked to on a daily basis were an elderly woman who ran a bakery, a young girl named Janet McOdin, and Salazar Slytherin, who lived three towns over with his parents." Many began to whisper at this while Helena continued.
"One night, Rowena had gotten into a bad argument with her father. He was upset that she had chased off yet another suitor, the son of a business partner of his. Rowena vehemently stated she would rather die than marry the pigs her father tried to set her up with. Her father had slapped her and said she would regret her decisions.
"And regret them she did. The next morning, her father had her mother prepare her for slavers who were coming into town. Rowena tried to escape, but her mother placed a binding spell on her and made her 'presentable'. When she was being presented, Rowena made quite the scene. Such a scene that her accidental magic destroyed her parents' living room wall. This is when Julian found her.
"He had felt a powerful magic signature in the area and decided to investigate. He was walking by the Blackthorn residence when their wall disappeared. When he discovered the cause was Rowena, he decided to see if he could convince her parents if he could train her in the Magical Arts. They argued for several minutes, but eventually, they sent Rowena with Julian. But not before they told her they never wanted to see her again. Rowena was heartbroken. Julian could not get her talk at all."
'Poor Rowena,' Daphne thought as many others whispered fervently. She was glad her father was nothing like that.
"It wasn't until he found another powerful magic signature did Rowena's downward spiral begin to abate. When she and Julian found Godric Gryffindor.
"Godric was the eldest among Eric and Diana Gryffindor's three children. They had been a Magical family from the Dutch countryside that had moved to England after several of their family were mysteriously killed off.
"Godric was a carefree person. He loved his sisters and his family and did many things to keep his family smiling. The only member of his family that earned his ire was his Uncle Lucifer. He always thought his uncle was hiding something under his pleasant smile and blasé attitude.
"He was right to be suspicious. Lucifer was responsible for killing off his family. Despite his sister marrying into the Gryffindor line, Lucifer wanted to control the Gryffindor's vast fortune. So, he systematically killed off all blood kin to Eric, eventually killing Eric and his own sister to gain control.
"However, Godric caught on to his plot. He convinced his father to allow him to become the Head of Gryffindor House in order to foil his uncle's plans. Lucifer didn't take kindly to this. He slew Eric and his sister and took Godric's sisters from their house. Godric grabbed his father's sword and followed, only to find his sisters' bodies lying broken and bleeding before his uncle, who had a self-satisfied smile on his face.
"Enraged, Godric charged his uncle, but an Acromantula jumped on Lucifer and preceded to drag the man off." Many women in the room nodded, Daphne included. Daphne noticed Harry's hand clench tightly around Black Ivy.
"The horde was lured in by the scent of dead flesh. Godric wouldn't allow his sisters' corpses to be degraded any more than they had already been, so he began to kill the man eating spiders. Rowena had been wandering from hers and Julian's campsite when she discovered Godric losing ground. She called out for Julian and ran to help Godric. The two were almost overrun but Julian made it and saved them.
"Godric, having nowhere else to go, decided to travel with Julian when Julian asked him. He buried his parents and sisters and left. Sparing only one glance back at the graves of his beloved sisters.
"Along the road they came across a cult in the woods, about to sacrifice a young girl to a pagan god. Godric, being the noble one he was, jumped in to save her. Julian followed soon after.
"Helga Rainier watched her parents die in front of her at the age of six. Since then, she found herself being handed off from Dark Wizard to Dark Wizard. And every time she was handed off, she was placed in some sort of ritual. Her blood was so pure, they claimed, that any ritual it was used in, it would enhance the power of the ritual tenfold. For this reason, they never attempted to rape her, for fear her blood would be tainted."
Several people released a breath they didn't realize they were holding. Helena continued. "Helga, however, did have a vast collection of scars that were reminders of the rituals she was forced to take part in. She was simply ready to give up her hope of being free until Godric and Julian saved her.
"Now to the man I'm sure most of you want to hear about. Salazar Slytherin. As the son of a blacksmith, Salazar spent most of his days working around the house to help his mother or with his father in their forge, learning the trade of his father. Because he spent most of his time around his home, he had few friends. In fact, his only friend was Rowena.
"His parents wanted tried to encourage him to make more friends, but Salazar just wasn't the kind of person. He was the kind of person who spoke his mind all the time. This caused many his age to shun him, but Salazar didn't care about that. He only cared about his parents and Rowena.
"One day, he was in the forge when a Dark Wizard single-handedly destroyed his village. The Dark Wizard was looking for something, but I can't say what it was, as no one ever told me what it was. He destroyed Salazar's home and the forge with one spell, with the forge falling on top of him.
"He was very lucky, as the Dark Wizard made perfectly sure that everyone was dead. Salazar was trapped under the roof of the forge until Rowena found him there. Julian ran to help and banished the rubble off of him.
"When Salazar woke up, he was in shock. His parents were dead, his village was gone, and he was a wizard. Not what you want to wake up to. As you probably could suspect, he didn't take it too well. He was mad. Mad at his situation. Mad at Julian. Mad at the Dark Wizard. In fact, the only one he wasn't mad at was Rowena."
Suddenly, a bell sounded, and everyone jumped. They were all so engrossed in the story that they forgot they were in class. Helena sighed. "We shall continue this later, then. Farewell."
Gringotts
"Chairman, we've got bad news!" a Goblin shouted frantically as he barged into Ragnok's office.
Ragnok frowned. "More?" He was in the process of sorting through all the bad news Torn and Axeblade gave him on the first fifty Vaults they investigated.
"Read this!" the Goblin ordered as he slapped a manila folder down on Ragnok's desk.
Raising an eyebrow, Ragnok took the folder and examined its contents. He blanched. "Is this accurate?!" he whispered faintly.
The Goblin nodded quickly. "After the Granger's test, we decided to replicate some magic signatures to see if one could break whatever enchantment was on Miss Colton's lineage tests. We decided to try Albus Dumbledore's first, as he has been a problem lately. Enchantments on the test broke instantly." The Goblin shivered. "Naturally, we were shocked at the test results and looked at her other tests. They were all the same. We've tested them thirty times. The results are legit."
"Oh sweet, Merciful Creator give me strength," the Gringotts Chairman mumbled in his native tongue, his hands forming an ancient Goblin symbol for warding off evil and misfortune.
"What do we do, sir?"
"Tell her, of course."
"But sir!"
"If we don't, she'll turn her wrath on us. We may can kill her, but I would rather not lose many of my brothers in trying."
"I…I understand sir. Should I send the results to her?"
"No. I will. You send the results to Miss Colton the results."
"Yes sir."
Tonks Family Residence
Bellatrix sat on a couch watching some Muggle movie. Since her release from St. Mungo's, she was placed in her sister Andromeda's custody until further notice. Andromeda had gotten her hooked on Muggle horror movies. She had to admit, Muggles may not have magic, but they sure came up with some crazy ideas.
Narcissa came in with some Muggle snacks and sat down next to Bellatrix. "What are you watching now?" Narcissa asked.
"Friday the 13th," Bellatrix said.
Narcissa turned to the TV just in time to see a tall man in a hockey mask fold some kid in half; backwards.
Narcissa scrunched her face up in distaste. "How can you stand watching this?"
Bellatrix shrugged. She had a feeling she had done a lot worse when she was still under the influence of the Lestrange's marriage contract and all those potions and spells.
They continued watching in silence until Andromeda walked in with Ragnok following her. "Trixie," Andromeda called out.
Bellatrix looked up and scowled. "Don't call me that," Bellatrix hissed.
The middle Black sister rolled her eyes. "Ragnok wants to speak to you," she said.
Bellatrix raised an eyebrow. "Okay, why?" she asked.
"I simply wanted to give you this," Ragnok said as he held up a manila folder.
Confused, Bellatrix reached out and grabbed the folder. She opened it up and immediately dropped it, a loud, horrified gasp escaping her lips.
"Bella! Bella, what's wrong?!" Narcissa asked, but Bellatrix just stared off into space, eyes wide. Narcissa grabbed the folder and opened up. Andromeda came over and looked over her shoulder. They gasped at the contents:
Lineage test for Ashley Isabella Colton
Adopted name: Ashley Isabella Colton
Adopted family
Adopted father: Jonah Christopher Colton
Adopted mother: Jessica Cynthia Colton
Real name: Aquila Delphinus Lestrange
Biological family
Biological father: Rudolphus Ignatius Lestrange
Biological mother: Bellatrix Drusilla Lestrange
A picture of Ashley was beside the test. The two Black sisters looked to Bellatrix, then the folder, then back to Bellatrix. Bellatrix turned to Ragnok and demanded, "Is this accurate?! Is this fucking accurate?! Please tell me this is accurate."
All Ragnok did was nod. "We ran the test thirty times."
It was enough for Bellatrix. "I'm going to see her," Bellatrix said with finality.
"Bella, are you sure that's wise?" Narcissa asked.
"No. But I've spent too long thinking she's dead. Most of these thirteen years I've been drugged and didn't remember she existed in the first place. I refuse to wait!"
"Bellatrix wait. Let's talk about this. I know you want to see your daughter, but we need to be calm about this." She turned to Ragnok and asked, "Why did it take you so long to find this out?"
"A wizard charmed Miss Lestrange's test to prevent us from learning its contents."
"Who?"
"Albus Dumbledore," Ragnok said with reluctance.
"And we're back to square one," Andromeda sighed as Bellatrix Apparitioned out.
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Harry sat at on a rock near the edge of the Black Lake a little before curfew. His joints were killing him from his latest lesson with Professor Flitwick. Flitwick was a worse demon than his own father when it came to training. Flitwick was literally running him into the mud!
On the plus side, his sword skills have gotten better. That was a good sign.
Harry rolled his shoulders again as a groan escaped him. "Still complaining, Potter?" a voice teased. Harry turned to see Daphne smirking slightly at him.
"A little pain isn't going to make me cry like a little girl," Harry grumbled as he continued to roll his shoulders.
"That's an unfair comparison, Potter. My sister could probably break her entire arm and laugh it off," Daphne said.
"You know what I meant."
"Touche."
"How's Ashley? Last I saw her she was still in a daze." Harry was concerned about his new friend. He wished there was something he could do to help her.
Daphne shook her head sadly. "She's still a walking husk," she stated sadly. "Something has to give soon, otherwise she will never heal."
Harry nodded. Daphne walked up and sat down next to him. They sat there for a while and Harry was starting to go crazy. He wanted to know why Daphne seemed so familiar, damn-it! If Dumbledore or whoever didn't Obliviate him, then what the bloody hell was it?!
Daphne was having a similar problem. Since meeting Harry, she was struck with a horrifying sense of familiarity. She took to checking herself for charms and Obliviations for two months now and had more experienced wizards and witches test her as well. Nothing. Daphne believed she had some sort of high power magic blocking her memories, but she couldn't find anything in the Hogwarts Library.
Finally, the silence became too much for the both of them, and both blurted out: "I have something to ask you."
They blinked at each other before chuckling at each other. "You go first," Harry offered.
"Oh, no Potter. You're NOT getting away with being a noble prat this time. Normally, I'd thank you for being such a gentleman, but-"
Suddenly, a scream broke through the night. Both gasped. "Ashley!"
/
Ashley sat near the Whomping Willow tree crying. She never knew why the tree was so…'kind' to her, but it never tried to kill her. So, it became her place of solace with she wanted to be alone.
And right now, she needed to be alone.
She knew they weren't her real parents, but they had taken her in as a baby and treated like their own daughter. She was forever grateful for that. They wanted her when no one else did.
She sniffled again and wiped her nose with the sleeve of her robe. She got up to head back to her Common Room when something moved towards her. Before she knew it, she was being grabbed by a fat, ugly, rat of a man. She screamed.
"Now, now, Miss Colton, there's no need for that," a grandfatherly voice rang out, causing Ashley to pale.
Dumbledore appeared in front of her, a sad smile adorning his features. "I really am sorry for what is about to happen, my dear, but sacrifices must be made. Your death shall pave a way for a new alliance I shall be building soon."
"W-what?" she asked uncertainly.
Dumbledore shook his head. "It is only a matter of time before the Goblins find it out. You see my dear, your father, your biological father, came to me for help one day and asked I get rid of his child. He wanted your mother to break so thoroughly, he could turn her into Voldemort's most devote follower. Naturally, I couldn't kill a child, so I sent you away. To a Muggle orphanage, where your now late parents found you." He looked at her again and said, "I am sorry about that, too, but you know, loose ends and all."
It clicked in Ashley's mind. She struggled against Pettigrew and snarled, "YOU! YOU'RE THE ONE WHO KILLED MY PARENTS! I'LL KILL YOU, YOU HEAR ME?! I'LL END YOU! END YOU!"
"I'm sure you would, my dear. Especially considering who your real mother is."
Ashley stopped dead. "M-my…real mother?" she asked faintly.
Dumbledore smiled at her again. "Yes, my dear. And that is why you must die. With your death, which I shall stage to look as if the Potters killed you, I shall have Bellatrix's help in destroying all this chaos they have brought to our beloved Wizarding World."
Ashley choked. "B-B-Bellatrix Lestrange is my…mother?"
Dumbledore nodded. "I'm afraid so, my dear. Now you see why I had to keep it away from you. You were her only shred of happiness in her loveless marriage. With you gone, she will gladly help me kill all who were responsible for your death. Goodbye, my dear. Avada-"
"Celeri Ictu!" A lightning fast magic strike dissipated on a Protego Dumbledore quickly casted. He turned to see Daphne and Harry standing behind him, Black Ivy clenched tightly in Harry's hand.
"Ah! Harry! My boy! Just who I was hoping to see!" Dumbledore said jovially.
Harry snarled. "I'm not your boy, Dumbledore!" He raised Black Ivy in front of him and continued, "Step away from Ashley and I might let you walk away. Volubilis Lamina!" He slashed diagonally and a whirling blade of magic spun towards Dumbledore like a top. The spell dispelled Dumbledore's shield charm before dispersing itself.
Harry kept up his assaults, swinging Black Ivy expertly. "Diffindo! Bombarda! Expluso! Celeri Ictu! Volubilis Lamina!"
Dumbledore deflected every spell with ease. He sent the last spell spiraling back at Harry, but Harry slashed at it and sent it flying back again. Dumbledore sidestepped and casted the paralyzing charm on Harry and Daphne. Harry held up Black Ivy's scabbard and casted a shield charm. When he let it down, he stiffened and fell. Daphne falling right after him.
"I admit you are becoming skilled in Dueling, Harry. That is troublesome. You cannot be this good, my boy. Don't worry, though. Once I renew yours and Miss Greengrass's Memory Shading Charm, I can kill Miss Colton and quickly get you away from these negative influences." He raised his wand and chanted, "Memoria Opa-"
"Sectumsempra!"
Faster than any old man should move, Dumbledore dodged a seemingly invisible spell. Turning, he saw Snape, James and Lily, McGonagall, Sirius, Remus, and Flitwick. Dumbledore looked disappointed.
"Severus, my boy, that was uncalled for," Dumbledore said in his best grandfather tone.
"'Uncalled for?'" James snarled. "You are trying to kidnap and mind wipe my son!"
"It is necessary," Dumbledore exhaled. "You all cannot see the path he must take. Only I can guide him to his destiny."
"Sorry, Albus, but that won't happen. As I'm about to pay you back for stealing my memories AND my son!" Lily roared. "I hope you're ready to die, old man, because I'm about dismember you slowly and tortuously."
Dumbledore shivered involuntarily. He knew Lily would do that. Sirius and Remus, at the moment, were glaring at Pettigrew, who was still holding Ashley. "Let her go, Peter," Remus said darkly.
Pettigrew shifted uncomfortably. "I-I-I c-c-c-ca-n't, Re-Remus," he stuttered pathetically. "D-Dumbledore w-w-will k-k-k-k-k-kill me!"
"Then die like a man, Traitor!" Sirius growled as he raised his wand high.
Harry's magic finally fought off Dumbledore's paralyzing charm and quickly ridded Daphne of hers. He helped her up and said, "Daphne, do you trust me?"
"Against my better judgment? Yes, yes I do," Daphne told him.
Then faster than anyone could perceive, Harry unsheathed Black Ivy and chanted, "Finite Incantantum Maxima!" He quickly went to stab her.
"Harry, NO!" Dumbledore cried out, but it was too late. Black Ivy plunged into Daphne from behind, the tip of the blade hitting Harry in the gut, the blade gliding through them like a vapor.
Both instantly fell to the ground, Black Ivy falling uselessly to the ground. Dumbledore cursed. He turned to try and administer a spell when James and Lily began firing spells at him. Sirius, Remus, and Snape fired some warning shots at Pettigrew, who in turn dropped Ashley unceremoniously to the ground. The three began firing spells at him in earnest while Flitwick and McGonagall began helping the Potters.
Harry and Daphne, however, were reliving old memories. Two of which were the most prominent.
~*Flashback*~
First Year
Harry was sitting in front of the Mirror of Erised one night. He knew what it was. Honestly, the name was written at the top of the mirror! He wondered how Ron couldn't see it.
Scratch that. Ron was an idiot. Why he was still with the redhead he'd never know.
He knew that sitting in front of this mirror probably wasn't healthy, but he didn't care. This was the first time in his life that he had ever seen his parents. The thought of seeing them was just too appealing.
He sighed as he got up and grabbed his cloak when the door opened and a girl with blonde hair walked in. They stared at each other for a few seconds. Finally, Harry cleared his throat.
"H-hello," Harry said hesitantly.
"Hello," the girl said back.
Harry shifted uncomfortably. "I-I'm Harry," he introduced himself.
"I know," the girl said tonelessly. "Everyone knows the 'Great Harry Potter.'"
Harry blinked. "'Great?' What did I do to be great? I mean, I'm not anything special. Heck, I'm only famous because my Mum saved me from You-Know-Who," Harry explained in confusion.
The blonde raised an eyebrow. "Why do you think that?"
"I find it hard to believe a barely one year old could survive a curse meant to kill that was casted by a thirty something wizard significantly more powerful than that barely one year old."
The girl nodded. "It seems most of the rumors about you are false, Potter."
"What rumors?"
"That you're a fame obsessed prat that believes everyone should bow down to because he defeated the Greatest Dark Lord in history."
"I didn't even know about any of this until Hagrid gave me my letter on my eleventh birthday," Harry pointed out. "And having everyone's attention only ever got me in trouble with my relatives. Why would I want to have everyone bow to me?"
The girl reacted then. Her eyes widened. "You didn't know about magic until your eleventh birthday?!" she asked.
Harry nodded, but stayed silent. The girl waited for him to continue, but when he didn't, she sighed. "I'm Daphne Greengrass," she said.
Harry smiled. "Hello, Daphne Greengrass," he greeted. "What are you doing here?"
"I could ask you the same question, Potter."
"True."
"But, since you asked so nicely…" She walked over to the mirror. "This mirror shows you what your heart desires," she explained. "When I look into it, I see myself, standing with my Grandmother. She died three years ago."
"I see my parents," Harry said quietly.
Daphne gave him a small sad smile. "My condolences," she hummed sympathetically.
"You know, you are the first person to do that."
"Do what?"
"Sympathize with me. Everyone just tells me that I look like my dad and have my mum's eyes. Honestly, it was becoming old."
Daphne chuckled. "I'm sure."
Second Year
After that, the two kept up there late-night meetings. Even starting up into their second year, they were very close friends despite all the odds against them.
Currently, they were sitting in an abandoned classroom with Daphne sitting on a desk and Harry pacing in front of her. "You're insane, Potter," Daphne droned.
"What choice do I have?!" Harry hissed. "I can't just not do anything! The Professors don't believe me! Ron's an idiot! Hermione's petrified! And now Dumbledore's gone and I'm the only one willing to do anything!" Harry screamed in frustration.
Daphne sighed. "Look, Potter, I know you don't like this, in fact I don't, but I know you're going regardless. You remember that magic lens charm we practiced?"
"Yep."
"Then, there's one last thing to do."
"Wha-umph!" He couldn't finish as Daphne jumped up and kissed him. On the lips. His eyes widened.
And just as fast as she had moved to him, she moved away from him; her normally stoic face blushing red. "Uh, um…" Daphne was flustered. Harry stood gaping like a fish.
"Oh, dear," a voice rang out, causing the two to turn and see Dumbledore standing there. "This is not meant to be. I'm terribly sorry about this, you two, but cannot be together. Memoria Opacis!"
~*Flashback End*~
Harry awoke groggily.
He looked around and saw his parents, Professor McGonagall, and Professor Flitwick dueling Dumbledore while Sirius, Remus, and Snape dueled Pettigrew. As Harry caught sight of Dumbledore, he felt rage boil up inside him. That man took away his memories of one of his best friends! He really did remember her before this summer! Dumbledore was going down!
He grabbed Black Ivy as he heard Daphne groan in front of him. His eyes immediately shifted to her. "D-Daphne?" he asked uncertainly.
Daphne placed a hand on her head. "Ugh...Harry?" She looked up and saw Harry kneeling before her. That's when it hit her all at once. Dumbledore made her forget her friend! Daphne gritted her teeth and demanded, "Where is the old man?"
They turned to see Dumbledore and Pettigrew losing ground against Harry's parents, Sirius, Remus, McGonagall, Snape, and Flitwick. Harry twisted Black Ivy and shouted, "Celeri Ictu!"
A silvery crescent shaped arc of magic raced forward and cut a few fingers off of Pettigrew's right hand. He howled in pain, and Dumbledore expelled his magic in a large wall and knocked everyone down. Daphne's wand was knocked out of her hand, and she rolled to grab it.
Dumbledore walked over to Ashley, who had been lying down to avoid stray spells, looked up in fear. "This must end quickly," Dumbledore intoned as he raised his wand.
Then, he was sent flying away from Ashley. Ashley gaped. "Huh?" she mouthed as Bellatrix came into view.
Bellatrix was fuming. She just learned that her daughter wasn't a stillborn, and as she was coming to see her, she finds Dumbledore standing above her wand raised! NO One gets away with trying to harm her little girl. NOBODY.
She walked towards him firing off spells so powerful, Dumbledore had trouble keeping up. Everyone finally got their bearings and watched in awe as Bellatrix showed them what made her feared throughout Wizarding Brittan.
Now, technically, Dumbledore's Elder Wand should've given him the win. However, given that a witch or wizard's magic core is powered by intent and emotion; and Bellatrix's rage at Dumbledore and her late husband, joy that her daughter is alive, the love she had for her, and then more rage at whatever Dumbledore was planning for her daughter triggered what some like to call "The Law of Technicality." It states that every situation has several technicalities that could dictate where the situation could lead.
So, yes, technically, Dumbledore should've won, but, the Elder Wand was a Dueling Wand. In a duel, Dumbledore would've won. But, the confrontation between Dumbledore and Bellatrix wasn't a duel.
It was a massacre.
Bellatrix backed Dumbledore into a corner and was wearing his shield down. A memory came to her and she pointed her wand straight at Dumbledore. "Fiendfyre Augere!"
The cursed fire erupted from her wand and shot forward at Dumbledore. The fire shattered his shield and hit him dead on. He screamed in pain as the fires engulfed him.
Bellatrix kept the fire going until she felt his presence disappear, like someone had just activated a Portkey. She scowled as she dispersed the flames, revealing nothing but burnt ground. "Damn, he got away," she growled.
A whimper reached her ears and she immediately turned and saw Ashley on the ground, staring at her in awe. Or horror, Bellatrix thought it could go either way.
Bellatrix walked up to her and asked, "Are you A…Ashley Colton?" she asked softly.
Ashley nodded slowly. Bellatrix squealed and hugged her fiercely. "Aquila! My beautiful Aquila! My sweet baby! I'm sorry! I'm so, so, sorry!"
Ashley was faint. "Y-You mean D-Dumbledore was right?"
Bellatrix pulled away just enough to look at her. "Yes. I am your mother. I'm sorry I wasn't there for you. Your father-your bloody father-took you away from me! I'm so, so sorry!" Bellatrix began to sob into Ashley's shoulder. Bellatrix couldn't help it. She was holding her baby girl for the first time!
Ashley sat there stunned. Her entire world was turned upside down in a matter of days, and now she was in her mother's-her biological mother-arms as said mother was crying into her shoulder.
"Ashley!" Ashley turned to see everyone running towards her. She groaned.
"What a night."
An: Finally!Hope you guys like this chapter. Chapter 10 will be out soon, hopefully. It will mostly be a summary of the rest of the year and the end of Harry's Third year.
Spell list:
Celeri Ictu- "swift strike" Similar to Snape's dark cutting curse. Harry created this spell by channeling magic into his sword and releasing it when he swings it.
Volubilis Lamina- "whirling blade" Variant of Harry's swift strike spell. Does the same thing as the Celeri Ictu, but forces the magic to spin.
Memoria Opacis- "memory shaded" A spell Dumbledore used to block Harry's and Daphne's memories of each other.
Augere- "increase"
HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS!
